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Service History: Thakur Gurdit Singh Minhas (a Hindu Rajput
with a history of over 5,000 years) was a part of the 6th Cavalry, later known
as Hodson/Hudson’s Horsemen regiment of the British Indian Army. His
normal/regular posting was near the border of current Pakistan and Afghanistan
(North Western Frontier).

During World War I, Cavalier Gurdit Singh Minhas with the 6th Cavalry crossed
today's Afghanistan and then took part in the action up to Egypt & Sinai through
Persia (Iran) and Mesopotamia (Iraq). Gurdit Singh was awarded a Star medal
(issued to those who saw service in operational theatre of war from 5 August
1914 to 31 December 1915) and a Victory medal.

Thankfully for our family, my grandfather came back home alive. He was not
educated and hence could not move up the ranks in the Army. He made sure that
all his four sons received a good education. My late father Rattan Chand Minhas,
after obtaining his honour’s degree from Panjab University, joined the British
government in Lahore Punjab. After the partition of India, he was stationed at
Shimla (Summer capital during the British Empire). He retired as Under Secretary
to the Punjab Government Finance Department in Chandigarh in 1979. Similarly, my
younger uncle Shri Kartar Singh Minhas retired as Under Secretary in the
Himachal Pradesh Government.